holley_cornetto's review against another edition
4.0
The chapters on theme and revision were the highlights of this book for me. I've read other craft books that discuss things like character, plot, and pacing, and I find that the information here is very similar to what those other craft books say.
I don't think this book is revolutionary, but it is a solid beginner text. It covers the basics, and, as mentioned above, it does a great job discussing revisions and themes.
I don't think this book is revolutionary, but it is a solid beginner text. It covers the basics, and, as mentioned above, it does a great job discussing revisions and themes.
wandering_not_lost's review against another edition
4.0
An entertaining book on the craft of writing. It had enough good points that I felt it worth the read and worth keeping, and the author's voice was colloquial enough to be fun. It does, as the writer admits, steer you towards the AUTHOR'S particular style in some places, which can be unhelpful if that is not YOUR style. In particular, I felt the author's taste in descriptions to be a bit overwrought and trying too hard, but maybe I'm just plebeian. Overall, though, it was worth the few dollars I paid for it at a book fair.
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